New York is one of those cities you can return to time and time again, and definitely one which has far too much to be able to pack into one single trip. 

While your first visit to New York City will be about seeing the main sites, and jumping between Broadway and the Statue of Liberty, your second trip to New York gives you the opportunity to dig a little deeper, and immerse yourself more fully; to take more time really getting to know the city.

Heading back to NYC?

Here are our favorite things to do on a second trip!

Things To Do on Your Second Trip to New York City

Take a Scenic Cruise

One of the best things to do in Manhattan is take a scenic cruise around the island. The Classic Harbour Line offers a three hour cruise that crosses under all 18 of the island’s bridges.

This is also a great way to get a deeper sense of the landscape and layout of the city, and you’ll see things that you probably didn’t see on your first trip, when you were following all the other tourists and hopping on the nearest subway.

There’s nothing quite like the view of Manhattan from the water, so this is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. 

Don’t miss: The Brooklyn Bridge. While walking, biking or driving across the bridge offers an amazing view of the river and towering suspension works, sailing underneath gives a whole new appreciation for the engineering behind this gargantuan span.

People Watch in the Park

New York’s Central Park is arguably one of the most famous parks in the world, and it has been awarded National Heritage Status.

A great way to spend your down time in New York City is to head to the park, find a spot to sit, and simply watch the world go by.

You’ll find no shortage of people watching opportunities here, and it’s a great way to immerse yourself into life in the city.

If you’re more interested in exploring the park then hire a bike: it’s the best way to get around, and the park is much bigger than you might expect! 

Use the Subway

The subway system in New York is incredibly straight forward, and the trains run 24 hours day, 7 days a week, meaning that you can always get to where you need to be in a fast and affordable way.

If you’re weary about travelling on the subway alone at night then taxi cabs are easy to find all over New York, giving you an abundance of public transport options.

We don’t advise that you hire a car in New York though: parking is expensive, and there’s always an abundance of confusing traffic. Car hire would be an expensive and time-consuming mistake. 

Go on a Pub Crawl

If you’re visiting the city for a second time, it’s time to mingle and meet a few locals!

Going on a New York pub crawl is a great way to explore the city’s night life. You can either start your pub crawl independently, or book one of the many pub crawl tours offered in the city.

Some of these are historic pub crawls, meaning you’d learn more about New York at the same time, whilst others are simply designed to encourage you to have fun and let your hair down.

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.